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Saturday, December 3, 2016

How to Talk to a Skeptic About Climate Change

It’s not always easy to talk about climate change - especially when you’re chatting with someone who believes climate change is exaggerated or even a hoax. Here are a few tips to help you navigate this topic more effectively.

Stick to the Facts

Discussing the very important topic of climate change can sometimes be uncomfortable because it can be considered political. The good news is that it is a widely accepted issue on both sides of the aisle, and recent polls show the majority of Americans accept human-caused climate change. Even so, many people may not comprehend the full extent of their personal pollution or greenhouse gas contributions, because it is not readily apparent in daily life. Electricity is usually generated at power plants far, far away; and often even the power cables are underground, completely hidden from view. Stick to the facts to help people understand the impact climate change has on the planet our daily lives.

The facts:

Global sea levels rose 6.7 inches in the last century, impacting humans and communities all over the world, a result of climate change. The first American climate refugees were resettled in early 2016 because their community in southwest Louisiana was impacted by coastal erosion from flooding; due to rising sea levels caused by climate change.

Propose a Solution: Climate change affects all of us and its scope can be daunting. Remember to talk about solutions or actions people can take when talking about climate change.

Fossil fuel-generated electricity is currently the number one source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that as the climate warms energy demand for home cooling will increase by 5-20 percent, increasing electricity prices. By choosing clean energy now, we can stem the tide of a warming planet and help stabilize electricity prices.

The EPA estimates that the energy produced to power the average American home creates as much as 7.5 tons of greenhouse gasses every year. Reducing your home’s carbon emissions, by choosing 100% renewable energy, is the single biggest step you can take to fight climate change and spur investments in new clean energy technology.

The rest of the world is also committed to addressing the problem. In December 2015, 190 countries attended the Paris Climate Summit and committed to reducing their combined national carbon emissions specifically to address climate change; collectively representing 55 percent of total global emissions. Be vocal in your support of climate-friendly actions, such as the Paris Agreement, to fight climate change.

Help Them Act on Climate Change

Let your friends and family know how easy it is to combat climate change by signing up for clean energy with CleanChoice Energy. It only takes a few minutes to sign up for 100% clean energy with CleanChoice Energy. When you do, wind and solar power will be sourced for your home and you will help you and your neighbors live healthier lives with cleaner air.